Posted: 7/9/22 | July 9th, 2022
Berlin is a moveable feast. The sprawling German capital has remarkable restaurants (serving cuisines from all over the world), amazing bars, some of the best clubs in the world, cool third-wave coffee spots, world-class museums, an eclectic mix of architectural styles, one of the most diverse populations in Europe, and a real mix of quirky subcultures.
Berlin might not have a millennia-old past like Rome or a medieval heritage like Prague, but if you take the last 100 years into consideration, Berlin is at the center of nearly every major historical event. Home to three UNESCO Sites, it is the capital of the 20th century.
The city grew to prominence in the Middle Ages as a strategic economic hub. Owing to its location in the heart of Europe, the region was a cultural crossroads, helping Berlin evolve into the cosmopolitan juggernaut that it is today. While much of the city was destroyed during World War II (and some 125,000 of its citizens were killed), the capital was quickly rebuilt. In 1990, when the Berlin Wall finally came down, the city was once again the united capital of all of Germany.
To help you explore this complex history, there is a legion of guided tours you can take to get an up-close and personal view of this Central European metropolis—from walking tours to eating to drinking tours to biking to driving around in a Trabant, the kitschy Communist-era cars. Walking tours are my favorite way to see cities because you have a local guide you around.
Today, I want to share with you some of the best tours in Berlin to help you make the most out of your time in this cool capital.
Best Overall Tour
Get Your Guide
Get Your Guide runs facilitates all kinds of amazing group walking tours all around the city. But if you want to cover the main highlights and learn about the turbulent past of Germany’s capital, take their original Third Reich and Cold War Walking Tour. It lasts two hours and is highly informative, covering key spots like Brandenburg Gate and the Berlin Wall.
Run by expert local guides, it’s the best paid tour for budget travelers looking to learn more about Berlin, its past, and how the city came to be. Tours from 19 EUR.
Best Free Tour
New Europe
This free two-hour walking tour starts at the iconic Brandenburg Gate (at the nearby Starbucks, in fact) and slowly makes its way around the main sites of the city, including the striking Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the site of Hitler’s former bunker, a swath of the Berlin Wall, and Checkpoint Charlie, giving the tour-taker a really nice introduction on the 20th-century history of Berlin.
The tour is free but gratuity is always appreciated (and really, kind of expected,). I take New Europe tours whenever I can; they’re the best budget-friendly introduction to a city!
The Best Free Walking Tours in Berlin
1. GuruWalk Berlin
Offering up to 40 different themed tours, GuruWalk covers the city of Berlin quite thoroughly. There are various walking tours on the Berlin Wall, the Third Reich, the Cold War, the Jewish quarter, alternative Berlin, and the city’s main highlights, among others. Note that while the tours are technically free, the guides and company hope tour takers will offer up a tip of some kind, a pay-what-you-want situation.
2. Walkative
You’ll recognize a Walkative guide right away because they always carry yellow umbrellas, even if it’s not raining. These 2.5-hour individual and small-group tours take you back to the time Berlin was just a village and lead all the way up to the present day, but with a strong emphasis on the last 200 years. Guides are quite keen to offer recommendations on dining and nightlife too. Like a lot of free tours, this one also gently requests gratuity at the end, as a pay-what-you-wish kind of scheme.
3. Original Berlin Tours
Meet at the fountain near the Park Inn on Alexanderplatz and get ready for a fun, free tour of Berlin. With groups of 10 people or fewer, these walking tours will ensure you have access to the guide as you make stops at Reichstag, the Berliner Dom, Checkpoint Charlie, and various World War II places of battle. The itinerary is up to each guide, so you never know where she or he might take you.
4. Alternative Berlin Tours
If you’ve heard everything there is to know about Hitler and Bismarck and you want to skip the typical highlights and see a different side of Berlin, this free walking tour is for you. The informative guide will regale tour-takers with stories about the squatting culture of the ‘80s and ‘90s, the legendary techno club scene, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and punk rock culture. Tours last around three hours and they end at a riverside “beach bar” where you can have a beer with the guide.
The Best Paid Guided Tours in Berlin
Free tours are a great way to get a primer on Berlin. They’re especially good for backpackers and budget-minded travelers. But if you want to add some more zing and depth to your tour or do a tour that is more specialized, you’ll have to spend some euros. Here are the best-paid tours of Berlin.
5. Urban Adventures
Urban Adventures is the day-tour branch of Intrepid Travel, my favorite travel tour company. In addition to their main history tour, they also offer a comprehensive look at East Berlin as well as a food and art tour. They use local guides and their tours cover a lot of ground so you really feel like you’re learning a lot (their tours last from 3-5 hours). If you’re looking for something more in-depth than the free walking tours, this is it!
Tours from 65 EUR.
6. Fork and Walk
Love walking? Check. Love food? Check. Are you hungry? Double check. Stick your fork into the dynamic Berlin food scene and then walk it all off. This tour company does guided tours that combine food, street art, and history as well as tours for vegans (Berlin is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the world). But if you take the “Trends & Classics” tour you’ll get to sample the iconic currywurst, sip some schnapps, drink some local brews, and eat German pastries, among other delectable things.
Tours from 69 EUR.
7. Fat Tire Tours
Fat Tire offers tours in most major cities in Europe and they are always informative and fun. The Berlin bicycle tour is no exception. You can do guided bike tours of nearby Potsdam or you can bike along the Berlin Wall or you can take a tour focused on Nazi Germany and World War II. I like the general “Berlin Highlights Bike Tour” to refresh my knowledge of the city.
Tours from 28 EUR.
8. Trabi Safari
Tired of trudging through the city? Then hop in a Trabant, or Trabi, as they’re called in Germany. These diminutive automobiles were a Communist-era automobile staple in Germany. The body of the cars were made from plastic. Today they are a nostalgic symbol of the erstwhile East Berlin. And this tour company offers a drive around in Berlin in a Trabi while you see the sights and learn about the history of the city. Best of all, you get your very own Trabi to drive during the tour.
Tours from 59 EUR.
9. GoArt! Tours
If you want to see Berlin through the lens of art, design, and architecture (and are willing to splash out for a private tour), this company is for you. GoArt offers tours that take you into artists’ studios or shows you some of the amazing contemporary architecture around Berlin. They also do fashion-themed tours, allowing you to shop and sightsee at the same time. Their tours are high-end and not for everyone, but if you have a love of fashion and design then they are worth the price.
Tours from 150 EUR.
10. Berliner Unterwelten
These fascinating walking tours take you underground. And I’m not just talking in metaphors. You literally stroll under the streets of Berlin, exploring various Cold War and World War II-era bunkers; gawking at the few remnants of Germania, the utopian metropolis that Hitler wanted to build; and walking through subterrestrial tunnels that were used for secret and nefarious purposes — including the tunnels that were dug under the Berlin Wall.
Tours from 15 EUR.
11. Secret Tours
Berlin has a lot of secrets. This tour company whispers in your ear, letting you in on the secrets of this Teutonic city. Choose to head out to Teufelsberg, a Cold War-era base for U.S. Army wiretapping programs on the edge of the former West Berlin; or explore Charité, the city’s weird and wonderful centuries-old hospital. You can also go on a walking tour through the backyards and courtyards of Mitte apartment buildings, an opportunity you would not get if you were trying to do it on your own.
Tours from 20 EUR.
Walking tours are one of the best ways to get to know Berlin. There’s a lot of history, art, and little neighborhoods that you’ll never be able to really see without having a local show you around, and walking tours are one of my favorite ways to learn that insider knowledge. I definitely wouldn’t leave Berlin without taking a walking tour. There are some really niche ones that will really allow you to get into the quirky subcultures that Berlin is so famous for!
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Book Your Trip to Berlin: Logistical Tips and Tricks
Book Your Flight
Use Skyscanner to find a cheap flight. They are my favorite search engine because they search websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is left unturned!
Book Your Accommodation
You can book your hostel with Hostelworld as they have the biggest inventory and best deals. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as they consistently return the cheapest rates for guesthouses and cheap hotels. My favorite places to stay are:
If you’re looking for more places to stay, here’s a longer list of my favorite hostels in Berlin.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance
Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
- SafetyWing (best for everyone)
- Insure My Trip (for those over 70)
- Medjet (for additional repatriation coverage)
Looking for the Best Companies to Save Money With?
Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use to save money when I’m on the road. They will save you money when you travel too.
Want More Information on Berlin?
Be sure to visit our robust destination guide on Berlin for even more planning tips!
